the line of evolution that ends in man is not the only one.

on other paths, divergent from it, other forms of consciousness have developed which have not been able to free themselves from external constraints

as the human intellect has done, but which, none the less, also express something that is immanent and essential in the evolutionary movement.

suppose these other forms of consciousness brought together and amalgamated with intellect: would not the result be a consciousness as wide as life? 

and such a consciousness, turning around suddenly against the push of life, which it feels behind would have a vision of life complete- would it not?- even though the vision were fleeting.

it will be said, even so, we do not transcend our intellect, for it is still with our intellect, and through our intellect, that we see the other forms of consciousness. 

and this would be right if we were pure intellects, if there did not remain, around our conceptual and logical thought, a vague nebulosity, made out of the very substance out of which has been formed the luminous nucleus that we call the intellect.

therein reside certain powers that are complimentary to the understanding, powers that are complimentary to the understanding, powers of which we have only an indistinct feeling when we remain shut up in ourselves, but which will become clear and distinct when they perceive themselves at work, so to speak, in the evolution of nature.

they will thus learn what sort of effort they must make

 to be intensified and expanded in the very direction of life.



                                                                                               henri bergson's creative evolution,
                                                                                                introduction.